Inspiring Change for the Better

June 11, 2010
Scripture Verses: Philippians 1:9-10 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless…

Observation: being a leader includes authentically wanting the best for those who follow.

Application: I was reading (online) the introduction to a book by a fitness guru the other day. He mentioned that, after several years in the field, he attended a conference where he got to meet roughly 500 of his customers. Lots and lots of them came up to thank him for all of his insights and advice and products and services. He enjoyed meeting them all, of course. But what haunted him on the way home was the reality that at least 80% of all of those people appeared to be in very poor physical shape! The book (which I ordered but have not yet received to read) purportedly is his attempt to remedy the situation so that more of his ‘followers,’ as it were, would actually make improvements in their physical health rather than just read about it.

I think a variation of that theme is every pastor’s hope as well. We hope that each member of the flock entrusted to our care will be Spiritually healthy rather than just a person who likes to read and/or hear about Spiritual things.

The Apostle Paul wanted the best for those entrusted to his care as well. He was already proud of them and yet prayed that they would grow more and more in the love found in Christ. Later in the chapter Paul points out that it was his own personal trials that ended up being motivating factors for some of them. And so once again we learn it is often through our own authentic struggles that those we endeavor to lead are most inspired to make changes in their own lives.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be the type of servant leader that does inspire people to follow and trust you wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.